Author: Kanayan Tamar

OTTOMAN PARADE CANCELLATION RESULT OF ARMENIAN COMMUNITY EFFORTS

PanARMENIAN.Net
September 30, 2011 – 10:13 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – The Armenian National Committee of America –
Western Region, through its proactive consultations with Los
Angeles City Council members, the Mayor’s Office, the Los Angeles
Police Department, and state legislators’ offices, confirms that the
organizers of the Ottoman Military Marching Band, who were planning
on holding a procession on Hollywood Boulevard in Los Angeles on
October 3, have decided to pull their permit and cancel the event.

The ANCA-WR also commends the strength and unity of the Los Angeles
Armenian American community, which collectively voiced its shock
that such an event was taking place and exemplified its readiness to
quickly mobilize to address this grievous transgression.

Although no reason was given for the cancellation, the widespread
outrage in the community, and concurrent well-publicized announcement
by the Armenian Youth Federation calling for a massive protest,
undoubtedly impacted the organizers’ decision to ultimately retreat
from their ill-conceived plan to hold this event just one mile from
the border of Little Armenia in Hollywood.

In addition to bringing these serious concerns to the attention of
elected officials, the ANCA-WR two days ago also led the community
in strongly condemning the planned arrival of the offensively-named
band and likewise questioned the irresponsible decision by officials
of the City of Los Angeles to issue a permit to a group who claims
descent from the notoriously murderous corps of the Ottoman Army
known as the janissaries. Within 24 hours of the ANCA-WR statement,
the event was canceled.

The violent and bloody history of the Ottoman Turkish Military,
during which it perpetrated the Armenian Genocide of 1915, where 1.5
million Armenians were mercilessly slaughtered, made the appearance
of the Ottoman Military Marching Band in a city with over 500,000
Armenian Americans, many who are descendants of the Genocide, a clear
cut example of hate speech and incitement.

In solidarity with the Armenian American community, Los Angeles City
Council President Eric Garcetti and Los Angeles City Councilmember
Paul Krekorian, in a strongly worded statement, underscored the
ludicrousness of the event: “This planned performance, supposedly to
celebrate an event taking place in Orange County, is a provocation
of the Armenian community at a time when the community celebrates
20 years of Armenian independence.” The statement continued, aptly
highlighting the significance of the issue in saying that “the 1915
Armenian Genocide at the hands of the Ottoman Empire is a wound that
continues to fester.”

The ANCA-WR also thanks California State Senator Kevin De Leon’s
concern about this issue and his staff’s assistance in diligently
attending to this matter while regularly communicating with our staff.

Given the extreme sensitivity of this issue, the ANCA-WR continues to
work with City officials to ensure that the issue is definitively
resolved and that similar instances in the future will receive
the careful scrutiny that they deserve on the part of elected
representatives and City employees, Asbarez reported.

COE: FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION ENCOUNTER SERIOUS SETBACKS IN AZERBAIJAN

PanARMENIAN.Net
September 30, 2011 – 16:08 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – Freedom of expression, association and peaceful
assembly have encountered serious setbacks in Azerbaijan. Urgent
measures must be taken to uphold these fundamental human rights, the
Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Thomas Hammarberg,
said publishing observations on the respect of human rights in
Azerbaijan, as a follow up to his June 2010 report.

According to the CoE website, one year after the publication of
the report, the Commissioner regrets to note that most of the
recommendations he made as regards these areas have not been
implemented. In some cases, steps taken by the authorities have
even run counter to Azerbaijan’s human rights obligations. “One of
my recommendations was to end practices of unjustified or selective
criminal prosecution of journalists or critical opinion makers.

However, resort to such methods has apparently not abated. Fabricated
charges have been used to arrest and silence parliamentary candidates,
journalists and members of youth groups. Such intimidation is
inconsistent with the principles of a democratic society founded
on human rights principles and the rule of law. Measures should be
taken to release immediately all persons imprisoned because of views
or opinions expressed.”

The Commissioner is concerned by information indicating that in
the past months several national and international NGOs have faced
difficulties in carrying out their activities freely in Azerbaijan. He
is particularly worried about the recent demolition of a building
where several human rights organizations were located. “Responsibility
for this illegal action – which contravened a court order – should
be established, and the persons affected should at the very least
obtain adequate compensation for the loss of their property.”

Another source of concern relates to the wave of arrests of activists
and political opponents in connection with protests held in Baku in
March and April 2011. “These protests were sometimes dispersed with
excessive force, and the work of journalists was hindered. Several
persons were detained on grounds of violating public order. Six
opposition activists were sentenced on 25 August 2011 for participating
in ‘actions causing disturbance of public order’, following trials
whose conformity with human rights standards has been called into
question.”

The Commissioner therefore urges the Azerbaijani authorities to fully
respect the right to freedom of peaceful assembly, in accordance
with the case-law of the European Court of Human Rights. “Freedom
of expression, association and peaceful assembly are indispensable
principles of a democratic society. Effective measures must be taken
by the Azerbaijani authorities to uphold them.”

MILLENNIUM CHALLENGE CORP. VICE PRESIDENT COMING TO CHECK ARMENIA-MCA PROGRAM RESULTS

epress.am
09.30.2011 16:45

Vice President for Compact Operations of the Millennium Challenge
Corporation, Patrick Fine, will visit Armenia Oct. 2-4 to review the
results of the five year US-funded MCA-Armenia Program. During his
visit he will meet with Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan, senior
officials of the Government of Armenia, farmer beneficiaries, donor
partners, and private sector and civil society representatives,
according to a press release issued by the US Embassy in Armenia today.

In 2006, the US Government’s Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC)
and the Government of the Republic of Armenia signed a Compact with
the objective of reducing rural poverty through a sustainable increase
in the economic performance of the agricultural sector. Since its
completion on Sept. 29, 2011, the MCC grant investment of nearly
$177 million USD in the MCA-Armenia program has benefitted over
420,000 rural residents in around 350 communities across Armenia by
refurbishing major sections of the country’s main canal systems,
modernizing some of the most urgently needed pumping stations,
introducing new gravity irrigation schemes, re-building tertiary
canals and restoring sections of the Ararat Valley Drainage system.

The MCA-Armenia program has also trained over 45,000 farmers in
improved agriculture practices, delivering technical assistance to
water supply institutions, and providing $8.5 million USD in credit
to farmers and small agribusinesses to support the program objectives,
reads the statement.

Subject: Millennium Challenge Corp. Vice President Coming To Check
Armenia-MCA Program Results

Millennium Challenge Corp. Vice President Coming to Check Armenia-MCA
Program Results

09.30.2011 16:45 epress.am

Vice President for Compact Operations of the Millennium Challenge
Corporation, Patrick Fine, will visit Armenia Oct. 2-4 to review the
results of the five year US-funded MCA-Armenia Program. During his
visit he will meet with Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan, senior
officials of the Government of Armenia, farmer beneficiaries, donor
partners, and private sector and civil society representatives,
according to a press release issued by the US Embassy in Armenia today.

In 2006, the US Government’s Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC)
and the Government of the Republic of Armenia signed a Compact with
the objective of reducing rural poverty through a sustainable increase
in the economic performance of the agricultural sector. Since its
completion on Sept. 29, 2011, the MCC grant investment of nearly
$177 million USD in the MCA-Armenia program has benefitted over
420,000 rural residents in around 350 communities across Armenia by
refurbishing major sections of the country’s main canal systems,
modernizing some of the most urgently needed pumping stations,
introducing new gravity irrigation schemes, re-building tertiary
canals and restoring sections of the Ararat Valley Drainage system.

The MCA-Armenia program has also trained over 45,000 farmers in
improved agriculture practices, delivering technical assistance to
water supply institutions, and providing $8.5 million USD in credit
to farmers and small agribusinesses to support the program objectives,
reads the statement.

ARMENIA TREE PROJECT BEGINS PROPAGATION OF RARE AND ENDANGERED SPECIES
By Armine Tokhmakhyan and Jason Sohigian

hetq
12:15, September 30, 2011

YEREVAN–The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has
been publishing its “Red List of Threatened Species” since 1963. The
IUCN is the world’s main authority on the conservation status of
plant and animal species, and the Red List is published periodically
as the most comprehensive inventory available. A series of regional
Red Lists are produced by countries and organizations to assess the
risk of extinction to species within a smaller geographic area.

The Ministry of Nature Protection released its own two-volume “Red
Book of Plants and Animals of the Republic of Armenia” in 2010. “The
country’s attractiveness and public welfare are directly linked
with the splendor and richness of its natural heritage,” writes Aram
Harutyunyan, Armenia’s Minister of Nature Protection, in the preface
to the publication. “The production of the Red Book is another step
forward in the preservation and recovery of the region’s biodiversity.”

There are approximately 3,600 plant species in Armenia, and 123 are
endemic or found nowhere else on the planet. According to the authors,
these plants may become endangered because of a number of influences
including deforestation, the overuse of resources like water, and
development of land which provides habitats for plants and animals.

The new Red Book includes information about 452 plant and 40 fungus
species that are rare, along with information on 223 plant species
that are in danger of extinction.

“In response to the concern over the loss of native plants,Armenia
Tree Projecthas a policy of growing only indigenous trees in its three
nurseries,” explains Samvel Ghandilyan, ATP’s Nursery Program manager.

The only exception to this is “naturalized” trees, which were
introduced long ago, have not been observed to have a negative impact
on the local ecosystem, and provide an added benefit of food security
(fruit and nut trees).

“An ecosystem is a community of plants, animals, and smaller organisms
that live, feed, and interact within the same physical components of
an area or environment, including the soil, water, and sunlight. When
you introduce plant species that are not native to the area, there is
a risk that the local ecosystem will be negatively affected, creating
a less suitable environment for local species,” adds Ghandilyan. “In
recent years we’ve noticed that many native species that comprise
our local ecosystem have either vanished or drastically reduced
in numbers. Native and naturalized species possess certain traits
that make them more likely to thrive under local conditions without
negative impacts, which is why ATP has made this a priority in our
nursery and tree planting programs.”

“ATP started to pay special attention to the propagation of endangered
species of plants at our nursery in Karin. These include nine trees
and shrubs that are registered as rare in the Red Book and two that
are in danger of extinction,” Ghandilyan says. “These are Alpine Maple
or Acer Thrautvetteri, and Halfsphere Rose or Rosa Gaenuspherica.”

“Our nurseries serve the communities of Armenia by providing fruit
and decorative trees to more than 900 planting sites,” explains Areg
Maghakian, ATP Deputy Director of Operations. “As a result of this
work, we will soon be able to observe some of the species included in
the Red Book in the parks, churches, and schools throughout Armenia.”

ATP’s next ambitious initiative is the restoration of Armenian Heritage
Fruit Trees. In the past, Armenia had numerous varieties of apple,
peach, and apricot trees. These fruit trees are now rare and measures
are being taken to preserve the heritage trees from disappearance.

“Last year we started to produce Heritage Fruit Trees at ATP’s Karin
and Khachpar nurseries,” adds Maghakian. “In 2010, we successfully
grafted Parvana and Shaqareni apple, Malacha and Dzmernuk pear, and
Yerevani and Sateni apricot trees, which will be delivered to community
planting sites in coming years. As part of our mission to re-green
Armenia, ATP has a commitment to preserve our precious biodiversity
by planting native and endangered trees all over the country.”

ATP’s mission is to assist the Armenian people in using trees
to improve their standard of living and protect the environment,
guided by the need to promote self-sufficiency, aid those with the
fewest resources first, and conserve the indigenous ecosystem. ATP’s
three major programs are tree planting, environmental education, and
sustainable development initiatives. For more information about ATP,
please visit the web site

KARABAKH PRESIDENT DISCUSSES ARMY BUILDING ISSUE

Tert.am
19:26 30.09.11

Bako Sahakyan, President of Nagorno-Karabakh Republic, chaired a
meeting of the NKR Security Council Friday which discussed issues
related to army building process.

According to a press release by the Karabakh presidential
administration, Sahakyan noted that the Defense Army is the main
guarantee of Karabakh’s security.

Sahakyan also said that improving the combat readiness of Karabakh’s
army is one of the priorities of the state building process.

Further, Bako Sahakyan gave concrete assignments to the Government
and Defense Ministry for proper implementation of the issues discussed
at the meeting.

The Security Council also discussed issues related to organization of
solemn events in connection with the Victory holiday, 20th anniversary
of the Karabakh Republic Defense Army and liberation of Shoushi.

President Sahakyan assigned the Cabinet of Ministers to form a
governmental commission on the organization and coordination of such
solemn events.

ARMENIA – YOUR PARTNER 2011 INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC EXHIBITION OPENS IN YEREVAN
Hasmik Dilanyan

“Radiolur”
30.09.2011 17:32

“Armenia – Your Partner 2011” international economic exhibition opened
in Yerevan today and will continue through October 2.

About 200 local and foreign companies representing the fields of
healthcare, agriculture, insurance, tourism, industry, innovation
and information technologies participate in the exhibition.

Greeting the participants of the exhibition, Prime Minister Tigran
Sargsyan expressed confidence that it will provide the local producers
with an opportunity to present their production and services to their
foreign counterparts.

“The exhibition is a platform for local companies to sign
cooperation agreements with their partners, expanding the framework
of cooperation. The exhibition will also help us sum up the path
passed during the 20 years of independence, reveal the strong and
week aspects of the economic field,” the Prime Minister said.

Companies from Russia, Iran, Georgia, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic
and Great Britain participate in the event. The exhibition also
allows the investors to study the Armenian market and negotiate new
investment programs.

Minister of Economy Tigran Davtyan advised the organizers to provide
privileges to local producers. The Minister is confident there are
a lot of high-quality Armenian products, which the consumers do not
know about.

20TH ANNIVERSARY OF ARMENIA’S INDEPENDENCE MARKED IN MONTREAL

Aysor.am
Friday,September 30

As part of Bonjour l’Armenie program, Montreal Mayor’s Office hosted
a solemn reception dedicated to the 20th anniversary of Armenia’s
independence on September 22.

Congratulatory addresses were delivered by Ambassador of Armenia to
Canada Armen Yeganyan and Mayor of Montreal Gerald Tremblay.

Montreal’s Garni Dance Ensemble performed at the event.

The reception was attended by members of the Municipal Council, heads
of foreign diplomatic missions accredited to Montreal, Bishop Bagrat
Galstanian, Primate of the Canadian Diocese, representatives of the
Armenian community.

IRAN EQUIPS ARMED FORCES WITH ADVANCED MISSILE SYSTEM

Tert.am
12:54 30.09.11

A new advanced medium-range missile system entitled ‘Mersad’ has been
delivered to the Islamic Republic of Iran’s armed forces’ air defense
units, IRNA news agency reported.

Acting Commander of Khatam al-Anbia Air Defense Headquarters Brigadier
General Ali Reza Sabahi-Fard said that Mersad missile system has been
designed and produced by Iranian engineers and experts.

‘The control and command center of the missile system is fully digital,
advanced and equipped with simulators and integrated information
network in air defense system for tracking the targets,” he added.

PROPOSITION POUR LA CREATION D’UN MUSEE DU GENOCIDE ARMENIEN EN URUGUAY
[email protected]

armenews.com
vendredi 30 septembre 2011
GENOCIDE

Le senateur Raphaël Michelini (Nuevo Espacio) a presente une
proposition avec le depute Ruben Martínez Huelmo (Espacio 609)
afin d’ajouter au budget urugayen les credits necessaires pour la
creation du Musee du Genocide Armenien. Ils projettent de consulter
le Ministère urugayen de l’Education et de la Culture.

YEREVAN RESIDENTS TASTE LARGEST STRUDEL OF CAUCASUS

news.am
Sept 29 2011
Armenia

YEREVAN. – Armenia Marriott Hotel and Austrian Airlines have offered
Armenian capital Yerevan~Rs residents the chance to taste the largest
strudel (an Austrian layered pastry). The strudel, which is 36 meters
long and weighs 150 kilograms, can be tasted on Thursday until 6
p.m. by visiting Armenia Marriott Hotel and paying 500 drams ($1.35
US) for one piece.

Three chefs worked on this pastry for 4 days, and then they attached
its pieces at the hotel~Rs open-air café and received the 36-meter
strudel.

All taste testers are also given coupons which will be played in a
raffle at 6 p.m., and the winners will receive many prizes. The grand
prix prizes are 2 airplane tickets to Vienna and a holiday at Vienna
Marriott Hotel.

This is a traditional event, and it is held for the 5th year.